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Billing code 61340: Cranial decompressionMedicare rate & RVUs

Reports a neurosurgical decompression through a subtemporal approach, typically to relieve pressure from severe cerebral swelling.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities16 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $1,427.89 for 61340 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 61340

Cranial decompression

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work RVUs
19.61
Total RVUs
42.75
Global days
090

National rate · 2026

$1,427.89

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 61340 → · Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 61340 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 61340 covers

A neurosurgeon performs this operation through an opening in the temporal region of the skull to create space for a swollen brain and relieve intracranial pressure. It is associated with severe cerebral edema, including malignant brain swelling, and is generally performed in an operating room in a hospital or other facility setting. The operative report should identify the subtemporal approach, the clinical reason for decompression, and the side or sides treated.

Report the code for the subtemporal decompression itself, distinguishing it from decompression coded for another cranial location or approach. It has a 90-day global period: the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days are included. When other procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others at 50%. For bilateral surgery, modifier 50 is paid at 150%. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 61340 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

61340 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$1,245.82
Alaska*Unavailable$1,663.47
ArizonaUnavailable$1,372.68
ArkansasUnavailable$1,223.77
AtlantaUnavailable$1,493.38
AustinUnavailable$1,426.46
BakersfieldUnavailable$1,379.85
Baltimore/Surr. CntysUnavailable$1,540.15
BeaumontUnavailable$1,363.58
BrazoriaUnavailable$1,367.82

61340 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
61340 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 61340 rate is calculated

Each of 61340’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 61340

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

Work 19.61Practice expense 14.86Malpractice 8.28

42.7500 adjusted RVUs×$33.4009 conversion factor=$1,427.89

All indexes start at 1.000 (the national rate). Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 61340

61340 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 61340

Cranial decompression

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period090Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)1Bilateral with modifier 50 pays 150% of the fee schedule amount.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.11/0.76/0.13Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 61340

Cranial decompression

90-day global period ends

Dec 30, 2026

Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.

  • 24 Unrelated E/M visit by the same physician
  • 79 Unrelated procedure (starts its own global period)
  • 58 Staged, more extensive, or therapy procedure that was planned
  • 78 Unplanned return to the operating room for a related complication
SurgeryVisit
Sep 23, 2026Jan 10, 2027

Pre-op dayGlobal period

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 50 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

61340 without 50 · national facility

$1,427.89

Cranial decompression

61340-50 · Bilateral: 150%

$2,141.84

Both sides on one line with modifier 50 are paid at 150% of the fee schedule amount (subject to multiple-procedure rules with other procedures).

When to use modifier 50

61340 compared with similar codes

Compare codes

61340 vs 61322 vs 61323 vs 61345: national Medicare rates

Swap in your local Medicare rate.

  • 61340
    Cranial decompression · 19.61 wRVU
    —
  • 61322
    Cranial decompression · 33.4 wRVU
    —
  • 61323
    Cranial decompression · 34.18 wRVU
    —
  • 61345
    Cranial decompression · 28.5 wRVU
    —

How to choose

61322Cranial decompression
61340 is specific to a subtemporal approach. Code 61322 describes decompressive craniectomy without lobectomy; the operative technique and documented service determine the choice.
61323Cranial decompression
Code 61323 includes decompression with lobectomy. Use 61340 for the documented subtemporal decompression when that lobectomy service is not part of the operation.
61345Cranial decompression
Code 61345 concerns cranial decompression in the posterior fossa. Code 61340 is for a subtemporal approach, so the operative location separates them.

Codes related to 61340

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 61340
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
61322Cranial decompressionDecompressive craniectomy without lobectomy; distinguish by the documented operation and approach.No office rate
61323Cranial decompressionDecompressive craniectomy with lobectomy, rather than subtemporal decompression alone.No office rate
61345Cranial decompressionUsed for a different cranial decompression location, in the posterior fossa.No office rate

61340 billing questions

How is this different from code 61322?

This code identifies a subtemporal approach. Code 61322 describes decompressive craniectomy without lobectomy; select based on the operation actually documented, not the general goal of relieving pressure.

How is this different from code 61323?

Code 61323 describes decompressive craniectomy with lobectomy. Use this code when the documented service is subtemporal decompression rather than a decompression that includes lobectomy.

What should the operative report establish?

The report should describe the subtemporal route, the reason for decompression, and the treated side or sides. It should make clear that the operation was not a decompression at another cranial location.

Can modifier 50 be reported for bilateral surgery?

Yes. CMS identifies this as a bilateral procedure; when performed bilaterally with modifier 50, it is paid at 150%.

Can an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

An assistant at surgery may be paid. Co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation; team surgery is not permitted.

What postoperative care is included in the global period?

The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during the 90 days after surgery.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 61340PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 6,770 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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